Capturing Dignity

On view: December 4 – December 29, 2024

Venue: El Barrio ArtSpace PS 109, 215 E. 99th Street, NYC

Opening Reception: December 4th from 6:00-9:00 pm

“Black Girl Magic's Vanne McMillan” Film Screening: December 11th, 6:30-8:00pm

Closing Reception: December 29th, 3:30-5:30pm

Artists: Irma Bohorquez-Geisler, Kathy Shorr, Nancy La Lanne, Ann Rosen, and Stephanie Graham

Curator: Ann Rosen

New York, NY (October 2024) – El Barrio ArtSpace PS 109 is pleased to present, Capturing Dignity, an exhibition of photographic artworks by five women photographers examining concepts of community and portraiture with dignity and respect. Each woman has searched in her community to highlight those who have been overlooked. The works on view explore the lives and stories of all women, immigrants, victims of gun violence, women who were formerly homeless veterans or formerly incarcerated, recovering addicts, and relationships between African American men. Together, this collection of works explores the unique intimacy between documentary photographers and their subjects which allows them to capture a depth of beauty and humanity.

About the Artists / Projects

Irma Bohórquez‐Geisler has been creating a long-term photo-documentary essay, Simple Moments of an Emerging Presence, which began in 2001. Its aim is to document the historical migration of Mexican immigrants into New York City, especially Staten Island, focusing on how immigrant communities establish themselves in their adoptive country by bringing and adapting their rich culture.

Kathy Shorr’s project, SHOT: We the Mothers, the second project in a series exploring the effects of gun violence, features photographs of mothers from Philadelphia and Miami who have lost children to gun violence along with interviews. In SHOT: 101 Survivors of Gun Violence in America, Shorr’s original project in this series, she focused her attention on survivors of gun violence - people who have been shot and survived the experience.

Nancy La Lanne creates intimate photographic portraits that celebrate the beauty of all women’s bodies. Recognizing that women are often conditioned to doubt compliments or feel the need to downplay their beauty, she aims to highlight the diversity and uniqueness of each individual. Her work provides a welcoming space for each person she photographs to explore and embrace their true self.

Ann Rosen’s photographs from her Being Seen project acknowledge the power and strength of all women, and the importance of seeing the humanity in each one as a first step towards fostering understanding and empathy. Rosen, a former art teacher, conducts workshops with women from marginalized communities. These women collaborated with her on their portraits which reflect the way they wanted to be seen—the instability, uncertainty, and complexity connected with shelter living and the struggle to recreate a life.

Stephanie Graham’s project Love You Bro explores relationships and how affection is expressed between black men. As an African-American artist, Graham creates photographs, videos and installations that are armed with humor, satire, and soul to make otherwise difficult conversations on race and gender easier and more comfortable in this increasingly divisive political and cultural climate.

About the Film Screening

On Wednesday, December 11th, the gallery will present a screening of “Black Girl Magic's Vanne McMillan” followed by a discussion with the film’s award-winning director, Julia O’Farrow. The film explores the rise of entrepreneur and fashion designer, Vanne McMillan, founder of Black Girl Magic by Vanne. O’Farrow is known for her film “Beyond the Bars/No Extended Embraces,” which tells the stories of six women with partners in prison. Her work has been showcased at various film festivals and is included in notable collections, such as the Langston Hughes and Donnell Public Library’s video archive. O’Farrow is a founding member of the Black Documentary Collective (BDC) and has contributed as a guest curator for the Anthology Film Archive’s “New Filmmakers” series.

Ann Rosen

Ann Rosen

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